Since you know nothing, I suggest you simply go to a computer store and ask for help there. I could give you all sorts of suggestions on seperate things to buy, but that would involve you creating your own pc and since you have little knowledge of it, that might not be a good idea ^^
going to a computer store where the sales rep is paid via commission is... well let's say that half the sales reps know nothing about the products and a moderate amount about moving inventory. if you're up to building I can give you some advice on exactly mroe ro less what to pick out(will of course give a list of solid choices and explain pros/cons since information is king) and fi not I'll try and tell you ROUGHLY what you should be getting at your price point if you say what your systems intent is and what peripherals you want with it.
Its true thaet a commissioned sales mens is 50% bull----er and 50% thruthfull. What I did, is that i went to future shop (a non-commissioned store), and almost a well know store, and I asked what they recommended. I already knew more or less what I wanted in my computer, but they still helped me alot in orienting me to the right choise. I had the same amount of money as you do. The computer I wanted to build would of cost me around 2500$, but with the sales mens help, I was able to buy a computer, with a 22" flat screen lcd monitor, for 1450$. But I still didnt have the GFX card i wanted in it (Nvidia GeForce 8800 gt 512mb). I boght that seperatly for 350$ with a new Power supply, 50$. So cost me an extra 400$ for the upgrade, but came up to 1850$ instead of 2500$. So as you can see I saved a lot of money And of course I knew how to install the gfx card and power supply, but even if you dont it wouldnt cost more then another 50$ to install. So my advice is go to a well know non-commisined store xD.
Go to a lesser known and not a big chain computer store. Those guys'll hook you up, as they know what they're doing.
I have to disagree, I went to a lesser know shop and they told me to buy a 2500$ computer wich is half as good as the one i boght at Futur Shop for 1300$
